The development of a palliative care-led memorial service in an acute hospital setting

It is well documented that bereavement is an important function of hospice services. However, little data exists that specifically defines the form that bereavement support for those whose relatives died in a hospital setting should take. This article describes the provision of bereavement support in the form of a memorial service for relatives of palliative care patients in an acute hospital. It describes the background to its development, highlighting the importance of rituals of remembrance, not only for the bereaved but also for the staff involved by creating an opportunity for endings. A survey to elicit information on memorial services provided by hospital palliative care teams elsewhere is discussed, revealing that this service is one of only a few provided. The need to engage multidisciplinary support in the organization and provision of a memorial service is emphasized, as is the need for formal evaluation of such services in order to elicit whether the cultural needs of those attending are being met. Recommendations are put forward for future investigation, which will inform the ongoing development of subsequent bereavement services.